Godslayer - Megalith-games.com

Nimbur, the jewel of Volturna and largest city on that continent, is so old that its
foundations actually pre-date the birth of Mankind. Populated by the aloof and enigmatic
race of Aetherions, it possesses the largest library in the world. Conquered during the
Blessed Age by Halodynes, Nimburia was forced to endure a 1,700 year occupation which
altered it in fundamental ways. The Aetherions during that time were suffering the infertility
curse placed on them by the Asrae gods, and with the conquest by humans a caste of mixed
Aetherions and Mortals inevitably developed. During the occupation, cabals of Aetherions
worshipping the Dawn Gods went underground. These inscrutable deities were the creators
of the Aetherion race, dwelling in the outer planes. Over a period of four thousand years
the mystic priests healed and reinvigorated the Dawn Gods by channeling Keraunoi energy
- raw reality.
As the Halodynes’ Threxian Empire peaked and declined, the Aetherions patiently waited
through 23 incarnations of the phoenix Corpse-King, and when the Halodyne temple cult
of Aesys later seized the collapsed chunk of the empire and ruled the land, the Aetherions
bided their time. The millennia passed but for the immortal Aetherions, 4,000 years was but
a single chapter in the history of their great city. The miraculous birth of a child to the
deposed imperial family heralded a new chapter which began with the Night of Poisoned
Daggers when the pure-blood Aetherions rose up and assassinated the entire Halodyne
patriarch’s family together with most of the temple priesthoods. A new hierarchy fell into
place, with pure-blood Aetherions as rulers, hybrid Mortherions forming the middle class,
and Mortals constituting the under-class. The combined armies of the resurgent Golden
Kingdom now march relentlessly westward, crushing everything the Halodynes can throw
at them.

chapter i
Introduction

Chapter I - Introduction
8
Welcome to Godslayer ®
Well done, you made it! You got your hands on the avantgarde
game system which we are confident sets a new
benchmark for the tabletop gaming hobby!
As you browse through the following pages you are
embarking on a blood-spattered quest through the hazardous
and exotic world of Calydorn!
After fifteen years of miniatures gaming ourselves, we felt
compelled to design a new rules system and accompanying
gaming universe, and thus GODSLAYER ® was born.
At this moment you might ask yourself “Does the world
really need another miniatures game?” - YES, it certainly
does!
We found no other game satisfied us in terms of both ease of
play, tactical challenge and authenticity, and so the creation of
GODSLAYER ® became a quest for that holy grail of gamedesign
- the perfect combination of realism and playability.
Now, after four years of relentless scribbling by candlelight
and quill, locked within the dungeons of our own obsession,
and after countless hours of play-testing by our rabid team
of devotees to the god of perfectionism, we are maniacally
happy to unleash upon an unsuspecting world these tomes of
mythic mayhem!
After playing a few games we hope you agree with us that
GODSLAYER ® has reached a new pinnacle in game design!
But do not take our word for it - grab your dice and miniatures
and leap into the game. We sincerely hope you have as much
fun as we have!
GODSLAYER ® Rise of Legends
What is Godslayer ® ?
the game
Set in a rich and detailed fantasy universe named Calydorn,
GODSLAYER ® is a fast and tactically challenging tabletop
skirmish game played with highly detailed metal miniatures.
The game is designed for two or more players and offers
a totally new gaming experience with many aspects never
before seen.
In the world of Calydorn it is common for charismatic or
brawny leaders to attract loyal troops, heroic individuals, and
terrifying creatures to their cause - be it noble or nefarious.
As a skirmish game GODSLAYER ® allows players to field
a group of warriors in combat engagements. These so called
warbands represent hunting parties, scouting forces, raiders
or simply bands of adventurers, mercenaries, or bandits, etc.
The game places you in the role of a warlord, allowing you
to create your own individual warband based on a versatile
system of model and item selection.
Great care was taken to ensure that the rules system offers
a new level of realistic miniature behavior. A unique system
of action and resource management allows fast and logical
game-play, while retaining core rules which are simple and
memorable, allowing you to learn them rapidly.
To keep players continuously challenged, each model
has been provided with individual rules that result in a vast
multitude of devious and deadly combinations embedded
within the system, providing a rich resource for developing
new tactics to win upcoming battles.

the world
GODSLAYER ® revolves around the grim world of
Calydorn, upon which numerous factions wage war for the
very survival of their cultures and species, where individuals
undertake heroic or diabolic quests to acquire unto themselves
godlike powers.
Where once gleamed the glorious nations of the Golden Age
now sit the ruins of the Darklands - regions where creatures
of shadow, cursed races, and demons hold sway, their hordes
relentlessly pounding the walls of crumbling civilizations.
The history of Calydorn is painted with the blood of countless
fallen cultures, and its denizens are only now beginning to rediscover
some of the world’s more eldritch secrets.
Ghorn - the central continent - has become the furnace of the
gods, wherein deities forge the spirits of the boldest mortals
into merciless mages and brutal warriors - fitting heroes for
the current age, striving against hope to avert the holocaust of
the Omegalypse.
The most exceptional characters manage to increase their
powers through heroic deeds, mystic rituals, and the patronage
of divine, demonic, or elemental entities. Some even follow
the path of the Godquester, seeking out the Celestial Vortexes
and consuming the encapsulated anima - the essence of a dead
goddess - in order to attain the status of a demigod. A select
few even undergo apotheosis, ascending to take their place
among one of the divine pantheons.
All such heroes of legend began their careers as leaders of
warbands, fighting countless battles - just as you will soon
fight!
As you will discover, the world of GODSLAYER ® is a rich
tapestry on which to weave the heroic quests and sagas of your
warbands; and on the brutal world of Calydorn thousands of
such warbands seek glory or infamy, or simply strive to amass
power and wealth in spoils and magical artifacts.
Now is the time for you to prove yourself worthy, leading
your warband to its bloody destiny!
GODSLAYER ® Rise of Legends
a game overview
Before we bombard you with all the detailed rules of
GODSLAYER ® , we would like to give you an overview of
how a typical game of GODSLAYER ® runs so that you have
a broad picture before learning the detailed game mechanics.
Two players face each other over a model battlefield, each
of them controlling a warband of different models which are
composed before the game according to a points system that
balances the opposing forces. Some models are individuals;
some operate in groups (which are called units).
The game is divided into six or more rounds. In each round,
players take alternating turns to activate some of their models.
Activated models may do such things as move, shoot, fight,
cast spells and use tactics.
All actions are regulated by a system of action tokens,
whereby every model has a specific number of action tokens
at the start of its turn, and each action they perform uses up a
certain number of tokens. This system is a natural and realistic
way of managing your warband’s actions during each round
and is one of the core systems of the game.
In GODSLAYER ® there are no artificial turn sequences, and
due to the constant turnabout play, the game has an immediacy
and flow which other games may lack. The order in which a
model performs its actions is basically open to the player’s
choice, making the game very realistic and flexible.
Statistics represent the fighting skills, the armor, the
determination, etc. of each model, and are listed on profile
cards which are included with each model. These statistics
are used in conjunction with dice rolls to determine if actions
such as fighting or shooting are successful. Often the result
is compared against an opponent’s statistic or roll. Luck
plays a part, and so managing probabilities is a key factor,
but GODSLAYER ® is primarily a tactical game where even a
streak of bad luck can be outweighed by clever play.
Each type of model has a unique combination of abilities and
tactics which are special rules that translate the character of
the model into game mechanics. In addition, some individual
models are able to order tactics to other models, making the
game even more strategic.
The winner of the game is normally determined by
comparing what we call “kill points”. Each player will earn
a certain amount of kill points during the game and the one
who has the most at the end of the game, is the victor! Special
scenarios introduce additional victory conditions and provide
new strategic challenges.
About These Books
To provide you with a short overview of these two tomes
and our recommendations of how to get the most out of them,
the following is a short introduction about their contents.
content
The two books of GODSLAYER ® - Rise of Legends not
only deal with all the rules needed for game-play, but also act
as a sourcebook for GODSLAYER ® .
For ease of gaming we have separated the rules and the
background material and that´s why you get two books.
Chapter I - Introduction
9

Chapter I - Introduction
10
The rulebook of course covers everything you need to know
to compose your warbands and lead them into battle. Here
you will learn your tactical options and how to defeat your
opponents and it also contains scenarios, multiplayer rules,
tips on how to paint your miniatures, build terrain, and advice
on how to get the most from your hobby. With this information
you can recreate the dark and beautiful world of Calydorn on
your tabletop gaming board.
The background book will provide you with detailed
information about Calydorn - the focus of the Seven Worlds,
and home of mortals - which has 50,000 years of history that
has shaped the world into the darkly exotic and lethally vibrant
place it is today. This tome contains a detailed background
of each of the six main factions on the central continent of
Ghorn, each of which represents a unique empire or culture.
usage
To ensure easy comprehension of the rules, all topics have
been placed in the most logical order possible. Nevertheless, it
was occasionally unavoidable to foreshadow elements which
will be explained at a later point. In such cases, the element
previously not detailed will be written in red, bold italics, with
the page of its later explanation noted in brackets.
Reading and memorizing the rulebook is not necessary
before beginning to play!
A lot of the material contained within these pages is primarily
for reference and amusement, and most of the game-relevant
statistics and special rules are to be found on the Profile Cards
(page 15), supplied with each model, for easy reference, so you
will not need to constantly refer to the rulebook.
If you possess a copy of the Quick-Start Rules (which come
as a printed version with each of the introductory boxed starter
sets of each faction and can be downloaded from our website
www.megalith-games.com for free), we would recommend
you read the Quick-Start Rules first! After a few games you
will have mastered the fundamentals of the rules, and should
then take your time to read the complete core rules.
Further gaming will allow you to master the tactics and
abilities of your chosen faction and gain an insight into the
capabilities of other factions. At that point you may want to
continue exploring the world of Calydorn in more detail on
the Megalith Games website (www.megalith-games.com).
If at times you find it difficult to grasp a rule or have problems
remembering everything, we suggest you keep a few models
to hand and play-test what is written as you go along.
NOTE
If you learned the basics of GODSLAYER ® with the Quick-
Start Rules, we strongly recommend you still read the core
rules section in its entirety, even though some parts might
seem familiar. This is because there are additional details for
many of the rules which you should take note of that are
not covered in the Quick-Start Rules.
GODSLAYER ® Rise of Legends
future books and products
GODSLAYER ® allows an immersive experience, starting
with the very first game, and increases in enjoyment the
deeper you go!
In order to support GODSLAYER ® players, additional
books will be released, extending the game with various new
miniatures, additional rules, and background information
about the world of Calydorn and its inhabitants.

Chapter I - Introduction
11

Thorbjörn saw them first; they were Wyldfolk for sure, dressed in leather and scale armor
and walking around like they owned the whole forest. Didn’t they know the Skannfyrd
claimed this land now? And next year we would push the border still further south. It seemed
to me that the “wild” had gone out of the “Wyldfolk” for they buckled beneath the fury of
the Skannfyrd. We rushed them and then I almost lost my head due to my arrogant folly.
These were no tribal yokels, they were the Wyldfolk’s elite Cromlech Guard, and they had a
Druid with them. Still, we had greater numbers and in the end Nordgaard Steel won the day
but the Druid slipped away. Gunnar tortured one of the survivors to find out what the hell
they were doing so deep inside our lands. Apparently they had come to visit one of their big
stones. What a thing to die for, I thought to myself. I would die for gold, I would die for a
woman and I might even die for the gods if I was in a good mood, but for a big stone stuck in
the ground, I think not. Damn strange people the Wyldfolk. Just then there was a crackling
sound from the edge of the trees, and I remembered the druid. Beneath the snowdrift I could
now make out a buried megalith which the druid was hurriedly uncovering. Then there was
a burst of brilliant light and the next thing I knew I was back in my village nursing three
broken bones and hands that looked like roasted boar meat. Although I lost an eye, I had
gained something - a healthy respect for big stones.

chapter ii
Game Overview

Chapter II - Game Overview
14
How to get Started
If you are new to tabletop games, you should find the
following sections a helpful introduction to starting your
hobby. Experienced gamers will likely already be familiar
with these concepts.
game requirements
In order to start playing GODSLAYER ® , you will need
several things - firstly you will need a copy of this rulebook or
the Quick-Start Rules.
Secondly you will also need miniatures. The best way to
begin is to buy one of the starter boxes of the faction which
appeals to you most. You can choose starter boxes from six
different factions, each of which contains an adequate number
of models to play smaller games, as well as a copy of the Quick-
Start Rules which allow you to start gaming immediately.
Finally, you will also need a tape measure showing inches,
some 6-sided dice, and a table or board to play on.
Equipment
Below we discuss each of the components necessary to play
in more detail.
miniatures
Fundamentally, GODSLAYER ® is a game of miniatures,
each of which represents a specific individual on the
battlefield.
Each of the factions of GODSLAYER ® has a wide range
of miniatures and will be continuously supported with new
models.
How many models do I need?
To start with, we recommend you purchase a starter box
which contains around 5-8 miniatures including a warlord to
lead your warband.
Additional models provide you with greater tactical
flexibility and the novelty of using a great variety of interesting
options. In time you will probably wish to expand your force
in order to play larger games or to vary your tactics.
Calydorn is a world of brooding heroes and malevolent
villains, whose individual actions have profound effects upon
reality, so vast armies of miniatures are not required to have a
challenging and fun game!
Which Faction should I chose?
Each faction has a different style of play required to gain the
greatest advantage from its particular benefits. Some factions
are stronger with hit-and-run shooting or war-machines and
some can call on horrifying monsters, while others excel in
close combat tactics or delivering brute force. Nevertheless,
all the factions are balanced, and have equal chances to
triumph over their enemies.
Since you can only use models that belong to the same
faction in a warband, you might want to flip through the
“Factions” section of this book ( page 121- page 229), to get a
basic feel for style of each faction. To begin with, we
recommend you simply purchase a starter box with the models
which attract you the most!
dice
GODSLAYER ® Rise of Legends
During adventures and times of war, not everything works
out as planned, and so many of the actions of GODSLAYER ®
require a dice roll to determine if the action can be successfully
accomplished.
GODSLAYER ® uses two different types of dice divided into
the following categories:
Standard Dice (D6)
These are regular six-sided dice, displaying numbers from
1 to 6. For game terms we refer to them as D6. When rolling
multiple dice and adding their totals, we use a notation of a
number followed by “D6”. For example 2D6 means two sixsided
dice should be rolled and their totals added together.
Effect Dice (D3)
Effect dice are six sided dice displaying numbers from 1 to
3. Each number is displayed two times to give equal chances
of rolling one of the numbers. For game terms we refer to
them as D3.
If you do not possess a D3, you can simply use a D6 and
define it as follows:
D6 Dice Roll D3 Result
1 or 2 1
3 or 4 2
5 or 6 3
tape measure
In order to measure movement and other game-relevant
distances, you will need a tape measure showing inches.
You can obtain such a tape measure at any good gaming
hobby stores or from most tool or DIY / Home-Improvement
stores.

profile cards
Profile cards simplify keeping track of a model’s statistics
and special rules, and each model or unit has its own profile
card or cards which come packed together with the miniature.
Better keep these cards in a safe place; you will need them to
play the game efficiently. If you should lose or destroy a card
by mistake, you can order new ones at the Megalith Games
online store: www.megalith-games.com
card protectors and non-permanent
markers
To use the profile cards most effectively, you should slip
them into transparent card protectors so that different things
on the card can be marked.
Since the cards are manufactured with a plastic film cover,
it would be possible to mark things on the cards directly with
a non-permanent marker, but to ensure a longer life-time
of the card itself it is recommended to use transparent card
protectors and mark the protector with an erasable marker
(non-permanent marker).
Card protectors and non-permanent markers can be bought
at any good gaming hobby shops, while markers are also
available at most art stores or stationary suppliers.
paints
Even though paints are not strictly required for the game, we
strongly recommend players to paint their miniatures, since
this increases the enjoyment of the game and displays your
individual model designs and color schemes!
There are a number of firms producing professional acrylic
paints designed especially for miniatures gaming which can
be found in most hobby stores and art shops. We recommend
players to use Vallejo paints for their miniatures, because
Vallejo has a great pallet of top-quality acrylic colours which
will bring out the best in your miniatures!
For tips and techniques on how to paint your miniatures,
please have a look at the chapter “Painting Miniatures” on
page 230.
GODSLAYER ® Rise of Legends
battlefield
GODSLAYER ® is played on what we refer to as a battlefield,
so you will minimally need a flat surface such as a table.
We recommend using a battlefield of 48 inches width and
48 inches length for playing games with two to four people
of an average game size but you also have the option to play
your games on a bigger table of 48 inches width and 72 inches
in length.
For larger games and games with more than 4 people we
definitely recommend a battlefield of 48 inches width, and 72
inches length.
For regular gaming, it is a good idea to get yourself wooden
or polystyrene boards, or a model grass mat, as explained later
in the section on “Building Terrain” (page 233).
To add more excitement and attractiveness to the battlefield
you should use terrain such as hills, trees and buildings which
can be bought from professional hobby shops and good games
and model stores or can be custom-made by enthusiasts who
have a little time and some creative drive.
Further details on creating your own battlefield terrain are
also found in the section “Building Terrain” (page 233).
an opponent
You can spend a lot of time discovering the world of Calydorn
by reading background information in our publications or on
the GODSLAYER ® website.
You could also immerse yourself in planning new tactics
and warbands, painting miniatures and building terrain, but
the hobby all comes together when playing the game against
a worthy opponent!
Where do I find other Players?
The easiest way is usually to enquire at your local hobby or
games store stocking GODSLAYER ® . Many such shops have
gaming days and groups of like-minded players who like to
meet, and who welcome other players!
You could also access the forums on the GODSLAYER ®
website (www.megalith-games.com) where you will meet
lots of other players from around the world, or you could visit
local tournaments.
Chapter II - Game Overview
15

Chapter II - Game Overview
16
Game Conventions
To assure a general fairness throughout a game of
GODSLAYER ® , there are two major game conventions to be
followed by every player.
dividing and rounding
At times during the game a statistic or dice roll may become
modified. Where this results in a half number, always round
up.
Example: When using a D6 to determine the roll of a D3 you
just half the result of the D6 and round it up. Let us assume
the D6 role shows a 3. Halving the 3 gives you 1,5 which
rounded up results in a 2. The value of the role would then be
assumed to be 2.
disclosure
Nearly all of the information about every model in the game
is assumed to be available to all players, therefore anytime an
opponent asks about specific model information or statistics
you should give him this information or simply allow him to
take a closer look at the profile cards of your miniatures.
Rules Conventions
There are a few simple conventions to be understood to
ensure that all players interpret the rules in the same way and
to prevent misunderstandings and endless rules discussions
during a game.
understanding rules
We endeavoured to ensure that every rule is written simply,
briefly and precisely, leaving no room for other interpretations
than their exact meaning. Everything explained in a rule
description should be played exactly as it is stated!
If something is not mentioned, it does not apply, and you
should not assume it to mean something other than what it is
written.
It will be clearly stated in the rule explanation every time
there is an exception to a rule.
rules priority
The rules inside this book form the fundamental rules of
GODSLAYER ® , which is why we call them the “core rules”.
Each model also has specific, additional rules in the form of
abilities and tactics which we refer to as Special Rules.
Special rules consist of the following:
• Tactics
• Abilities (including sub-faction abilities)
• Weapon Abilities
• Items (including all spells)
• Special Talents
GODSLAYER ® Rise of Legends
In the course of play you will find that some of this book’s
core rules and some model’s special rules will be modified in
some way as a result of effects or other situations.
Therefore we have made up two easy rules to establish rules
priority:
• Special rules that extend or alter the core rules always
overrule the core rules.
• Special rules can never overrule other special rules
except where it is clearly stated.
Example: A Banebrood Ursapine is a scary creature the size
of a giant bear and covered in poisonous pines. The Ursapine
model has the ability Fear, requiring enemy models within
melee range of it to make a Fear test or suffer a penalty on
their MEL statistic. The opponent has a unit of Wyldfolk of
Annyr Cromlech Guard within melee range of the Ursapine.
The Cromlech Guard have the ability Sacred Oaths which has
the special rule “The Cromlech Guard are not required to take
Fear tests due to Fear-causing enemy models but must test for
Fear against Horror-causing enemy models.” So we have two
special rules at work here. In this case the special rule Sacred
Oaths takes priority because its text clearly describes that it
overrules the Ursapine’s Fear special rule, while conversely,
the Ursapine’s special rule Fear does not say it overrules the
other special rule Sacred Oaths.
resolving rules issues
In the case that players have different opinions about a rule
or a special game situation, you should look up the exact rule
or situation in the rulebook. If this takes too much time to
clarify, then let the fates of Calydorn decide.
Both players roll a die, and the one who scores higher wins
the decision.

Chapter II - Game Overview
17